Chapter 180 – A Lesson for Deidara
"As expected, it's not going to be that easy," Deidara muttered to himself.
With a smirk, he summoned a flying clay bird and launched another wave of explosive attacks toward Hatake Yusuke.
"Lightning Release: Thousand Needles."
Kakashi quickly stepped in, releasing a barrage of lightning-infused senbon to intercept the incoming clay bombs.
Deidara clicked his tongue and responded by molding a massive clay dragon beneath his feet.
"It looks like they're trying to drag Gaara's body away!" Naruto shouted as he dashed forward.
Yusuke, remembering the mission's true objective, took off into the air in pursuit. As his older brother gave chase, Kakashi remained behind, choosing to face Sasori of the Red Sand instead.
While flying, Deidara continued throwing clay birds in an attempt to stall them. Naruto, darting left and right, was repeatedly forced to dodge the surprise explosions.
"Tch, this is getting tedious. If this keeps up, that panda kid's going to die," Yusuke muttered, slightly annoyed.
There was still a trace of Shukaku's chakra left in Gaara's body, but it wasn't nearly enough to sustain him. Fortunately, thanks to Yusuke's speed, they arrived before it was too late.
Yusuke's body suddenly shimmered into golden light—and in the blink of an eye, he appeared directly in front of Deidara.
The Akatsuki member's eyes widened in shock just before Yusuke's kick slammed into him, sending his body crashing into a rocky cliff far in the distance.
"So fast…?" Deidara muttered, stunned.
The mouths on his palms bit into more clay, quickly forming a pair of alien-like creatures that lunged at Yusuke from both sides—exploding on impact.
"Hah!"
Deidara grinned, pleased with the result. He leaped onto another clay bird and soared high into the sky.
"C3—Type 18!"
He dropped a massive clay doll straight down.
"Detonate!"
A thunderous explosion erupted, shaking the earth and sky alike.
But as the smoke slowly cleared, Yusuke emerged from the blast zone, nearly untouched.
"Just as I thought… explosions are a man's ultimate special effect," he said with a light smile.
"No way… Why aren't you injured?!" Deidara shouted in disbelief.
"Why would I be? Got anything else? Feel free to try," Yusuke said calmly, unfazed.
"You're even more annoying than Uchiha Itachi! If you're a real man, stop dodging!" Deidara shouted.
"I didn't dodge at all," Yusuke replied, both hands still in his pockets. "Go on. Hit me with everything you've got. If it's that weak, I won't even bother moving."
"Then DIE!" Deidara roared.
He formed hand seals and vomited a large amount of clay from his mouth.
"C4: Karura!"
The clay began forming a colossal replica of Deidara himself, slowly advancing toward Yusuke before exploding in a burst of microscopic bombs invisible to the naked eye.
Everything around was vaporized.
Once the deafening blasts subsided, Deidara flew closer, squinting to assess the aftermath.
"This time... there's no way he survived," he whispered.
But as he neared, he saw Yusuke still standing calmly, completely unharmed.
Deidara's face went pale. Sweat trickled down his temples. For the first time, he hesitated—fear creeping into his heart.
"Hand over the kid. Do that, and I'll let you go," Yusuke said flatly.
Deidara clenched his jaw, glancing at Gaara's limp body. He didn't want to give up, but he knew he was outmatched.
"Fine. Take him," he growled, tossing Gaara's body toward Yusuke.
Yusuke narrowed his eyes. In an instant, a crushing spiritual pressure burst out from him, causing Deidara's chakra to momentarily freeze.
He appeared beside Gaara in a blink and swiftly removed the remnants of clay still clinging to his body.
"Oh, you like explosions? Then how about one from me?"
Yusuke twirled a finger in the air.
"Lion Majesty: Imperial Ground Scroll – Sky Scroll!"
Multiple translucent lions materialized in the air, roaring furiously as they surged toward Deidara. The bomber quickly wrapped himself in a clay cocoon for protection.
A massive explosion followed.
"Damn it…" Deidara staggered from the smoke, covered in burns. He had used nearly all of his remaining clay just to survive.
He looked shaken. The power of Yusuke's explosion had rivaled his own ultimate technique.
"Not bad… but I'm done. Go."
Yusuke's tone was disinterested now. He glanced at Deidara's battered figure—one arm gone, chakra nearly depleted. There was no point in continuing.
Deidara shot him a hateful glare, then turned and fled without another word.
Moments later, Naruto finally caught up.
"Uncle Yusuke! Is Gaara okay?!"
"He's still breathing," Yusuke answered calmly. "Normally, a Jinchūriki would die after losing their Tailed Beast. But this kid… he still has a sliver of Shukaku's chakra left."
"Can you save him, Uncle Yusuke?" Naruto asked desperately.
He could relate to Gaara more than anyone. Their childhoods were alike—perhaps Gaara's was even worse.
"It's easy."
Yusuke summoned a gentle teal-blue flame into his hand and softly pressed it against Gaara's chest.
A powerful wave of life energy surged into him. Gaara's pale face slowly regained color, his eyes fluttering open.
"...Naruto? Why are you here...? Didn't they take me away…?"
"Uncle Yusuke saved you!" Naruto grinned brightly.
"Lord Yusuke… You came as well… Thank you for your help." Gaara sat up and gave a respectful bow.
"No need to be so formal. Let's call this a light errand. Come on, let's go back. Your sister and brother are worried sick," Yusuke replied with a gentle smile.
He opened a swirling portal and brought both Naruto and Gaara back to where Kakashi's group was.
Meanwhile, the battle on Kakashi's side was heating up.
Despite facing Sasori of the Red Sand, Kakashi appeared unfazed—holding back deliberately. Sasori had already unsealed his third scroll, unleashing hundreds of puppets into the air.
"Old hag… with this army, I once destroyed an entire city," Sasori said coldly.
"White Secret Technique: Ten Puppets of Chikamatsu."
"Red Secret Technique: Performance of a Hundred Puppets!"
Hundreds of puppets surged toward Chiyo. Despite deploying her legendary Chikamatsu puppets, they were clearly outmatched. Everyone began to realize just how terrifying Sasori's puppet mastery truly was.
One puppet attempted to strike Chiyo from her blind spot—
"Sand Shield!"
Gaara's sand intercepted the attack just in time.
"Gaara! You're alive!" Temari shouted, overwhelmed with relief.
"A Jinchūriki… still alive after losing his Tailed Beast?" Sasori muttered, stunned.
"You're here… then Deidara... Hmph. What a shame. But that is the eternal and true form of art," he said with icy indifference.
"In that case... all of you will die here."
An overwhelming killing intent erupted from Sasori as he slowly unfurled a fourth scroll from his back.
"No! Stop him now!" Chiyo shouted in alarm.
"Old hag… I never intended to use him, but... to die by his hands should be an honor."
Sasori's eyes gleamed with madness as the scroll fully opened.
From within it... a human figure slowly emerged.
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